KNOWLEDGE THAT WORKS

How to create hooks that drive sales

How to create hooks that drive sales
How to create hooks that drive sales
How to create hooks that drive sales

Image courtesy of Scott Webb via Unsplash

Looking for answers on how to write a good hook? Here's a concrete guide to writing hooks that grab attention in the first 3 seconds - both visually and linguistically. We show you why hooks are key to engagement and performance and how to create sharp, targeted hooks with examples and concrete tips. You'll get five effective methods built to both reach your target audience and optimize your visibility - real value, not fluff.

How to create hooks that drive sales

1. What is a good hook - and why is it important?

A hook is the introduction (text, image or video) that grabs the reader or viewer's attention immediately. A strong hook ties your entire content together - and without a strong hook, you lose 90% of your audience's interest in the first few seconds.

Ingredients in a good hook:

  • Clear target audience

  • Call-to-action-like structure

  • Emotional or visual impact

2. Hit your target audience's pain points

Step 1: Identify your target audience and their biggest challenges.
Example: If you are targeting women 30-45 who want to lose weight, your hook could be:

  • Visual: Clip of you making healthy smoothies in workout clothes.

  • Speak: "My friend lost 20 kilos in one month - and it was with this weight!"

It works because it speaks directly to the target audience's dreams and skepticism, and shows a relatable situation.

3. Use powerful visual cues

Did you know that hooks should also work without sound? Fast clips, colorful movements and visual surprises catch the eye and stop scrolling hands .

Example:
Show a man with a "fake potbelly" who suddenly collapses. Speak: "Does your husband need to lose a few pounds too? I have good news." Starts with curiosity and ends with promise of solution.

4. Give the audience a cliffhanger

A cliffhanger arouses curiosity and keeps people hanging on. We humans hate unfinished stories.

Example:
Show: Putting on sportswear.
Speak: "I tested 3 body scanners - one made me lose 8 kg and it was NOT the most expensive."

The audience has to keep watching to find out which weight it was - and why.

5. Create controversy with an edge

Go against the grain without being creepy. Controversy breeds debate and engagement.

Example:
Show a woman throwing the bathroom scale out the window.
Speak: "I'm not fat-my scale was just broken."

It breaks the norms around weight loss and makes people pause because it's bold and direct.

6. Avoid coming across as advertising

There is an art to selling without selling. The best hooks use three or more of the above elements and never feel like an ad:

  • Emotional relevance

  • Visual curiosity

  • Cliffhanger or controversy

If it feels like a flow and you match the tone of your audience, it works.

7. Test and optimize your hooks

Create multiple versions of the hook and split-test them against each other. Suggestions:

  • Use the brand's features and benefits.

  • Collect response data: "People ask...", "They don't understand..."

  • Reflect on performance and adjust: "What worked? Why?"

This structure makes you a credible partner to the brand - not just a creator.

SEO optimization of the article

  • Title (SEO field): how to create a hook - 5 methods, examples and SEO guide

  • Meta description: Learn how to create a hook with five concrete methods, examples and SEO tips - create engagement in under 3 seconds.

  • Incorporate the keyword naturally in the H1, intro and at least one H2.

  • Use related search phrases like "create hook", "video hook example" and "social media hook" for semantic depth.

Collection

  1. Define your target audience's pain points

  2. Capture visually with speed or clutter

  3. Use cliffhanger structure

  4. Create discussion with an edge

  5. Avoid salsyness by being authentic

  6. Split test and optimize continuously

  7. SEO optimization with keywords, meta and LSI

With this guide, you have everything you need to write hooks that engage and convert - and help you rank on how to create a hook. Good luck with the creation!